South Africa’s Hammanskraal community’s struggles for clean and safe water symbolise widespread political pessimism
Resident gather at a water tank to collect water in the Hammanskraal township, Pretoria, south Africa on may 22, 2024. Hammanstraal’s problems are a snapshot of the issues affecting millions and driving a mood of discontent in South Africa that might force its biggest political change in 30 years in the next week’s national elections.
South Africa dropped its optimist ‘Rainbow Nation’ tag to become world’s crime capital where immigrants are hunted like rats
Dudula’s Deputy Secretary General Isaac Lesole rejected the allegations that the group harassed or abused migrants in the block. He said the group’s code of conduct, allowed members only to ask if someone has legitimate visa papers, not to demand to see them. He disputed the charge of vigilantism, saying their role was always to alert legitimate authorities.
How Mandela’s vision of Black unity faded in the heat of xenophobia as South Africa slammed doors on migrants
The May 29 election could mark the end of an era for post-liberation South Africa, with the long-dominant ANC expected to lose its parliamentary majority for the first time, abandoned by voters incensed at a litany of national woes including a dearth of decent housing, frequent power cuts, water shortages, poor schools, rampant joblessness and high crime.
‘You have guns, you don’t need a salary’ mantra sowed in national army by past regimes makes it difficult for UN forces to repulse Congo rebels
Criminality continues to bedevil the Congolese military, a major flaw that is cited in nearly every report of the UN Group of Experts on the DRC since 2011. Congolese security forces set up illegal roadblocks to extort citizens. They parcel off and control fiefdoms. They sell weapons to whomever is willing to pay, including the very forces they are fighting. They make deals with shadowy businessmen to pilfer minerals into neighbouring countries. These practices have long been the norm.
International investigators now link tech giant Apple to massive theft of Congo minerals
Congo’s lawyers notified Apple CEO Tim Cook on April 22 of a series of concerns about its supply chain, and also wrote to Apple subsidiaries in France, demanding answers within three weeks. The Amsterdam & Partners LLP law firm has been investigating allegations that minerals mined in Congo by several companies and armed groups are being smuggled out through Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi.
South Africa election: How Mandela’s once revered ANC lost its way with infighting, scandals
The ANC has often pointed to the difficulties in reversing nearly a half-century of racist laws under apartheid and hundreds of years of European colonialism before that, which kept millions in poverty. It maintains that South Africa is a better country than it was under apartheid and that is undoubtedly true.
Nigerian army rescues hundreds of hostages, mostly women and children, from Boko Haram extremists
The army said the hostages were rescued during a days-long military operation in Sambisa Forest, which was once a bustling forest reserve that stretches along the border with Cameroon and Niger, but now serves as an enclave from where Boko Haram and its breakaway factions carry out attacks that also target people and security forces in neighbouring countries.
Ruto’s Washington visit billed as platform for Biden to outline US economic and trade policy for Africa
Washington is also urging international financial institutions to offer low-cost financing to Kenya and other countries. The official said to expect some significant joint announcements about debt relief during the state visit this week “on how countries like Kenya can tackle this problem of debt.”
Questions emerge about involvement of American nationals in plot to oust Congo president
Dino Mahtani, an independent researcher into African issues, said he first heard of Malanga in 2018 while serving as a political advisor to the United Nations in Congo. He said Congolese authorities voiced suspicions that Malanga was involved in a purported plot to kill then-President Joseph Kabila.
Flight threat: Nigerian judge denies separatist leader, arrested in Kenya, bail for a second time
However, in a dramatic reaction in court on Monday, Kanu yelled out that he would not stand trial in any Nigerian court after his bail request was denied. Kanu’s IPOB campaigns for the secession of southeastern Nigeria where the majority belong to the Igbo ethnic group. Nigerian authorities have labelled IPOB a terrorist organisation.
